The farmer’s fight against Labour tax raids has taken an unexpected turn as protesters are now going ‘nuclear’.
At least – that’s what Sky News might have you believe after a news reader announced the disgruntled workers were preparing to put up the fight in Westminster amid a display of missiles.
The embarrassing blunder was quickly jumped upon by social media, but some have actually been pleased at the ‘news’ saying ‘good on them’ and ‘if that’s what it takes, launch those cowpat missiles’.
It comes after the news presenter announced the bulletin item – ‘Farmers preparing to protest in Westminster as inheritance tax anger grows’ – while a missile launched off of barren wasteland more than once under the header ‘Farmer Protests’.
One person said on X: ‘Yeah we all know they’ve bene storing those missiles in their barns.’
Another commented: ‘Sending a clear message to Downing Street.’
It comes as thousands of farmers are due to attend protests in Westminster on Tuesday against the Chancellor’s ‘disastrous’ move of imposing inheritance tax on previously exempt agricultural estates.
One person joked: ‘Amazing what you can do with fertiliser.’
Another said: ‘Guy Fawkes had nothing on these farmers.’
Among the political pundits to also note the blooper are Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice who said Sky were being a ‘bit bullish’ on protest plans.
Former MP Michael Fabricant added: ‘The farmers’ protest goes nuclear!’
Behind the humour however is a sad story of generations of those in the trade who have felt ‘betrayed’ by Rachel Reeves’ budget.
Only yesterday, Tom Bradshaw, president of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), delivered a fresh blast at the Chancellor’s plans ahead of the planned protests.
There has been uproar since Ms Reeves announced she is imposing inheritance tax on previously exempt agricultural estates worth over £1million, at a rate of 20 per cent.
Critics have warned that move will wipe out family-run farms who will be forced to sell up in order to pay death duties.
There have even been threats of strikes, which could hit supplies of meat, barley and oats, over what has been dubbed Labour’s ‘family farm tax’.
Other comments made in relation to the blunder include some people making joke comparisons to the tactics normally deployed by farmers.
Someone said: ‘When they said militant unions I may not have taken them literally enough.’
Another person added: ‘They don’t mess around them farmers!’
And one observer concluded: ‘The future of slash and burn farming.’
Speaking to reporters on the way to the G20 summit in Brazil, Keir Starmer had said ‘it is very important that we support farmers’ but added: ‘Obviously, there’s an issue around inheritance tax and I do understand the concern.
‘But for a typical case, which is parents with a farm they want to pass on to one of their children, by the time you’ve taken into account not only the exemption for the farm property itself, but also the exemption for spouse to spouse, then parent to child, it’s £3 million before any inheritance tax will be payable.
‘That’s why I am absolutely confident the vast majority of farms and farmers will not be affected by this.’